Trail Blazers at Rockets
THE STORY: The Portland Trail Blazers were the talk of the NBA in the first few weeks, jumping out to a 7-2 start and checking off victories against Western Conference powers like Oklahoma City, Denver and the Los Angeles Lakers. But two straight losses have dulled the shine just a bit. The Blazers opened a six-game road trip with a 99-83 setback at San Antonio on Friday, failing to score more than 18 points in any quarter after the first. To make matters worse, Portland lost starting center Marcus Camby to a sprained ankle in the second quarter. Camby will not be available on Saturday when the Blazers visit the Houston Rockets. The Rockets have won two of three following a four-game slide, including a 103-89 drubbing of the Sacramento Kings on Friday. Houston is 3-1 at home, where it will play eight of its next 10 games.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSNW (Portland), FSH (Houston)
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (7-4): Portland got 29 points from LaMarcus Aldridge and 12 points and 12 rebounds from Gerald Wallace on Friday but could not get anything going from the perimeter. Jamal Crawford, Raymond Felton and Wesley Matthews combined to shoot 13 of 39 (33 percent). Crawford was the star of Wednesday’s 107-104 loss to Orlando with 24 points but the defense did not show up, allowing the Magic to shoot 58.6 percent. When the Blazers have struggled it has been on the defensive end, surrendering 100.3 points in their four losses.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (4-7): Six of Houston’s losses have come against playoff teams from last season with the other coming at the newly-remade Los Angeles Clippers. The Rockets have finally gotten a chance to show what they can do against weaker competition lately, topping the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday and outrebounding the Kings 55-36 en route to Friday’s triumph. Kyle Lowry recorded 25 points, nine assists and seven rebounds against Sacramento.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The teams split four meetings last season, with each winning once on the road. They are 5-5 over the last 10 matchups.
2. Martin averaged 26.7 points and shot 47.4 percent from 3-point range in three games against Portland last season.
3. Felton is shooting just 34.6 percent.